Bluetongue’s most recent appearance in the Canadian cattle herd may be a taste of what’s to come as insect species expand northward, a new study warns. Anna Zuliani, previously a graduate student in veterinary medicine at the University of Calgary (UCVM), recently published a paper on how geographical distribution of biting midges relates to the […] Read more
Livestock seen threatened as biting insects press north
Yukon to help cover livestock vets’ travel costs
The Yukon government has launched a pilot program to help cover veterinarians’ travel and service expenses for farm calls. The territory government on Tuesday announced it will accept up to 30 farmers for the pilot of the Veterinary Services Program, running from now to the end of March 2016. The program will reimburse participating veterinarians […] Read more
Chipotle sued over GMO-free menu claims
Reuters — Chipotle Mexican Grill’s new GMO-free menu claims have lured diners and boosted the burrito chain’s stock price, but it has some consumers crying foul. A California woman has accused the popular chain in a lawsuit of false advertising after it trumpeted on April 27 that it was the first national restaurant company to […] Read more
EU dairy farmers get rude awakening in post-quota market
Paris | Reuters — European dairy farmers caught out by a global market decline as they emerge from a 30-year-old quota system may have little choice but to produce at full pelt, hoping for a recovery in international prices next year. Milk prices paid to EU farmers are down 20 per cent from last year […] Read more
Farm kids: Don’t worry about wages
A new study by Cornell University agricultural economists says family members who work on the family dairy farm make $22,000 less annually than comparable hired managers, but are handsomely compensated with “socioemotional” wealth. “While $22,000 seems like a large penalty, there are non-financial rewards they experience working for the family business,” Loren Tauer, professor at […] Read more
Researchers using big data to find feed-efficient dairy cattle
The goal is to develop a prediction tool for breeding cows that will eat less with no loss in productivity
Reading Time: 2 minutes Researchers at the University of Alberta are looking to give producers a bit of a boost by isolating feed-efficient traits in dairy cattle. “We have an estimate that breeding for increased feed efficiency and reduced methane emission can reduce feed costs by about $100 per cow per year,” said Paul Stothard, an assistant professor of […] Read more
Cattle herd still shrinking in StatsCan estimates
The size of Canada’s cattle herd is still in decline and almost a quarter smaller than its peak in 2005, Statistics Canada reports. The federal statistics agency on Thursday released estimates showing the herd at 13 million cattle on farms on July 1 this year, down 2.1 per cent from the same date in 2014. […] Read more
U.K. grocers Morrisons, Aldi give ground in milk dispute
London | Reuters — British supermarkets Morrisons and Aldi responded on Friday to pressure from financially strapped dairy farmers by raising the price they pay milk suppliers. U.K. farmers have warned they face financial ruin, with falls in the price of milk forcing many out of work and spurring others to blockade distribution centres and […] Read more
Nominees sought for Alberta Milk award
Reading Time: < 1 minute Nominations are now open for the Alberta Milk Dairy Industry Achievement Award. The award recognizes the contributions of individuals or organizations to the leadership and development of Alberta’s dairy industry. These include: Volunteer efforts or committee work in service to the dairy industry; Agricultural education and youth activities in the dairy industry; Lobbying or championship […] Read more
U.K. farmers fear financial ruin from low milk prices
London | Reuters — British farmers warned Monday they were facing financial ruin, with falls in the price of milk forcing many out of work and spurring others to blockade distribution centres and walk cows through supermarkets. Farming unions from across the country were meeting in London to urge the government to provide more help […] Read more